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blackbird_1.0 · Jul 11, 2003, 07:52 AM

i was thinking bout buying a powermac for games and animation, i'm short on cash, i was wondering do i really need a g5, or could i get by w/ a g4, (with the way slower bus speed)?

OreoCookie · Jul 11, 2003, 08:39 AM

Take a look at the G5. As far as SPECmarks are concerned, it is twice as fast as the fastest G4. If you really do a lot of rendering, I would look into the dualie G5.

But in any case, the G5 has faster RAM, faster graphics cards, etc.

DrBoar · Jul 11, 2003, 08:45 AM

If you go to www.xlr8yourmac.com and the database for video card performance you will note that the G4 stuggle with games like SoF, UT2003 and it will only get worse in the future.

Try to get the money to a G5. If you buy a G4 buy as cheap as you possibly can. A dual 1.42 GHz might be faster than a single 867 MHz, but in a year both of them will be hopelessly outdated for games.

Most games does not support SMP so a dual 1.42 G4 really is a single G4 in many games. That G4 has the same Spec2000 bench marks as a G5 (IBM 970) would have at 800 MHz for the integers and at 425 MHz for the fpu

MindFad · Jul 11, 2003, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by blackbird_1.0:
i was thinking bout buying a powermac for games and animation, i'm short on cash, i was wondering do i really need a g5, or could i get by w/ a g4, (with the way slower bus speed)?

Games and animation? Seriously, pony up the little extra and get the G5 (1.6 or 1.8, they're both going to blow away the G4s). They will be monster machines. If you're really tight on money, look into the dual 1.25 G4s.

Commodus · Jul 11, 2003, 11:21 AM

Definitely spring for the G5 if at all possible. Two things that you can do that will definitely help: custom-order it with a Combo drive instead of a Superdrive. That saves you $200 right then and there. If you're on a reliable broadband connection, you can safely ditch the 56K modem (saves $29). That turns a $1999 system into a more reasonable $1770 system.

And of course, if you're a student (including one who just enrolled, or just graduated) you can go to the educational store and save a bit more.

Basically, unless your definition of hardcore gaming is playing Snood all day, you'll want a G5.

blackbird_1.0 · Jul 11, 2003, 12:40 PM

i've been enrolled in college for quite some time, but due to over exaustion, i've had to take a year off due i have to be currently in school RIGHT NOW to take advantage of the education discount?

blackbird_1.0 · Jul 11, 2003, 12:50 PM

just configured a 1.6 at the school store for under $1700, not bad.

MindFad · Jul 11, 2003, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by blackbird_1.0:
just configured a 1.6 at the school store for under $1700, not bad.

Go for it.

sc_markt · Jul 11, 2003, 02:56 PM

G5.

drHo · Jul 11, 2003, 03:03 PM

i'm a student too! i just went to the apple store (student) and configured a dual G5, 9800, etc. came out to $3300...not bad...it was like $4k regular :-P

Commodus · Jul 11, 2003, 05:01 PM

blackbird:

It might depend on the school. For example, at the U of Ottawa (where I just finished my degree) they mainly just check for your student ID card or some other evidence of your enrolment. However (to the best of my knowledge) they don't actually go so far as to verify a database before letting you buy.

Student cards here last for about 4 years, I believe - which means that if your degree finishes before your own student card expires (assuming you have one), you might be able to sneak in one or two extra discounts.

I'm half-planning on that for when I get my next Mac, hopefully in late 2004.